WINFIELD — Former Winfield City Schools teacher Alexis Rodriguez, 29, has been arrested and charged with committing a sexual act as a school employee and rape in the second degree. He was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 15, in Winfield.
Rodriguez resigned from his position at Winfield Middle School on July 19.
Winfield Police Department Investigator Lieutenant Justin Cottingham provided the Journal Record with a release, detailing the reason for Rodriguez's arrest.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Aggie Marching Band has a new leader this year as band director Brandon Owens has taken over following the departure of former director Jack Rudisell.
Rudisell has taken a position at Shades Valley High School.
Owens, who began his work with the Aggie Band on July 17, comes from Harvest.

HAMILTON  — The Marion County Commission has hired an accounts payable clerk in what was a desperately needed move following the departure of former County Administrator Kalyn Moore.
This took place during a special called meeting on Monday, July 31, in Hamilton.
“In the past few months, the commission, along with Kalyn Moore, discussed the operations of the administrative office and how it could be made to be more efficient,” said County Administrator Scott Hunt.

HAMILTON — Signature witnessing for the execution of legal documents is still as important today as it was decades ago, especially for deeds, law purposes and a myriad of other uses. Notaries public, who witness such signatures and affix a raised seal or stamp upon it, have new guidelines to follow effective Friday, Sept. 1.

This page will update with Marion County schools' football scores throughout the 2023 football season.

Brilliant High School:
8/25/2023, vs. Waterloo, 64-0, W
9/1/2023, vs. Pickens County, 6 -34, L
9/8/2023, at Marion County, 12-44, L
9/22/2023, vs. Sumiton Christian (Homecoming), 45-6, W
9/29/2023, at Phillips, 40-6, W
10/6/2023, vs. Hubbertville, 13-55, L
10/13/2023, at Lynn, 6-63, L
10/20/2023, at Holy Spirit Catholic, 26-35, L
10/27/2023, vs. Berry, 0-44, L
11/3/2023, at South Lamar, 0-56, L

GU-WIN — The Blue Moon Drive-In Theater is shutting down its week-to-week normal operations, and the theater’s future beyond that has yet to be determined, according to owner Chris Curtis.
Curtis and his dad took over the theater and opened it as the Blue Moon in 1996. Curtis said he took over for the most part in 2002, and his dad passed away in 2019.
Curtis and his father were no strangers to drive-in’s. Curtis said his family owned several while he was growing up, such as the Amory Drive-In in Mississippi.

HAMILTON — Students in Marion County are back in the swing of things as school is back in session.
While many parents and students are adjusting into the daily routine once again, many in Hamilton have also likely noticed an increase in police presence on roads, especially in Hamilton.
Hamilton Police Chief Jordan Carter has increased the amount of safety patrol near schools in Hamilton.
He, along with his staff, are making efforts to have an increased presence on streets near schools after many have been speeding through the areas.

HAMILTON — Bevill State Community College in Hamilton is set to get a massive renovation project underway as they have received over $3 million to update facilities at the Hamilton campus.
This comes as part of $19 million, allocated by the Alabama Legislature,  for facility renovations and development as well as the purchase of needed program equipment at BSCC.
The Hamilton campus used funds to renovate the roof of the business center facility as well as renovate the cosmetology and welding program facilities.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton City Council approved spending over $90,000 on new police vehicles for the Hamilton Police Department.
During a meeting held at Hamilton City Hall on Monday, Aug. 7, Hamilton Police Chief Jordan Carter addressed the council concerning the vehicles needed for the department.
“We have had these police vehicles ordered for several months now,” said Carter.
The Hamilton police chief explained that each vehicle costs $34,984.76.

HAMILTON — New Hamilton City Councilwoman Sherry Armstrong was sworn in during a ceremony on Monday, Aug. 7, at Hamilton City Hall.
The swearing in ceremony took place prior to Hamilton’s city council meeting and was officiated by Judge Mark Hammitte.
“I’m excited, and I appreciate the opportunity to be able to serve the people in our city,” said Armstrong following her swearing in.
“I don’t know how to thank you all. I will try my best to do the best that I can for our (city).”

Hamilton Park and Recreation is having fall registration for NFL flag, soccer and football.
The price for NFL flag is $50 for 8U, 10U and 12U co-ed teams.
The price for soccer is $40 for 6U, 9U and 12U co-ed teams.
The price for volleyball is $40 for third and fourth grade or fifth and sixth grade.
NFL flag and soccer games will be held on separate nights for any wanting to participate in both.
For more information, call 205-921-4371 or visit hamiltoncityal.org.

The Northwest Alabamian and the Journal Record are joining forces to honor some of Winston and Marion counties’ greatest heroes.

HAMILTON — Tornado Talk, a website dedicated to tornado history, in partnership with the Journal Record, is offering a chance for the public to share their knowledge and stories concerning the 1974 Super Outbreak of tornadoes, for the approaching 50th anniversary. On Thursday, Aug. 10, representatives from Tornado Talk will be at the Journal Record office in Hamilton, at approximately 1:30 p.m., for research purposes and to record the stories from the public of the tragic events of that day.

WINFIELD — The Winfield City Board of Education has unveiled plans for a new athletic facility that would bring multiple sports to one location.
The new facility would include a turf football field, surrounded by a running track, inside of a new stadium. The plans show the new stadium directly beside the existing multipurpose athletic facility on the high school campus.
The new plans also feature an add-on to the multipurpose facility which would give Winfield boys’, girls’ and co-ed bowling teams a set of lanes to practice and compete on.

MARION COUNTY — Marion County was hit with storms this weekend on Saturday and Sunday in another string of summer storms that don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
According to Marion County Emergency Management Agency Director Eric Terrell, storms caused damage throughout the county with downed tree limbs and power lines affecting all areas.
“This is basically the same pattern we’ve had all summer. It’s been a pretty stormy summer,” said Terrell.
Terrell stated Marion County 9-1-1 was flooded with calls from all over reporting damage.

WHITEHOUSE — Two Alabama Department of Corrections inmates working with the Alabama Department of Transportation were struck and killed by a vehicle on Wednesday, Aug. 2, on U.S. Highway 278 near the Whitehouse community.
The victims of the single-vehicle accident were Ronnie Steven Cornelius, 30, and Colt Eugene Morris, 40.
“ADOC would like to express its deepest condolences to the families of these two men who were killed in this tragic accident,” said ADOC Corrections Commissioner John Hamm.

HAMILTON — Marion County Department of Human Resources Director Kier Vickery has retired from her position after over 12 years heading up DHR in the county.
Vickery, who began her journey in the DHR as a social worker in 1993, has served the community for 30 years in various roles.
Vickery served as a social worker, a JOBS case manager, a senior social work supervisor, an interim director for Pickens County and the director of Marion County DHR.

WINFIELD — City officials expressed frustration over the lack of progress being made on the traffic lights at the main intersection in downtown Winfield after a tornado destroyed the previous lights on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021.
That was nearly two years ago.
Now, a set of temporary lights still hang diagonally across the intersection. The awkward angle, combined with a lack of left-turn signals and a dangerous blind hill, have created a dangerous situation that has left citizens and city officials alike frustrated over the delay in repairs.

WINFIELD — The City of Winfield is challenging the constitutionality of the state reporting law involving the collection of sales tax revenue from areas that are outside of city limits but within police jurisdictions.
The city unexpectedly found itself in violation of this law earlier this year, and by law, the city now must either stop providing services in those areas or abolish the jurisdiction all together.  

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
Residents of Guin, Twin, Hamilton, Winfield, or any other residents of Marion County who have been affected by harmful chemicals such as PFAS may be entitled to compensation as part of the multi-billion-dollar settlement between 3M and numerous lawsuits from across the country involving the harmful effects of these forever chemicals.
Over the last few years, 3M has faced two lawsuits from within Marion County, and a multitude from without.